The Book of Leviticus

Because the children of Israel were not spiritually ready for the Melchizedek Priesthood and its ordinances, the Lord organized them under the Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood and gave them the law of Moses (see Exodus 32:19; JST, Exodus 34:1). The book of Leviticus, which means “having to do with the Levites,” was like a manual of how to function in the Levitical Priesthood and administer the sacrificial ordinances of the law of Moses. It includes details of how to perform the ordinances associated with the tabernacle, which was erected and dedicated while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Leviticus also contains some special instructions that apply to everyone.

The process of becoming holy is a significant theme in the book of Leviticus. It is interesting to note that the word holy, or similar words like sanctify, are listed over 150 times in Leviticus. To become holy, we must first become clean—free from the effects of sin and justified before God. But holiness is more than being clean. It includes the process of sanctification, or developing a godly character. The general organization of the book of Leviticus reflects a similar pattern of spiritual development.

• Leviticus 1–16 teaches about becoming clean and right before God by making appropriate sacrifices and by making expressions of obedience in “daily performances and ordinances” (see Mosiah 13:29–30).

• Leviticus 17–27 teaches about the Mosaic standards of holiness that set covenant Israel apart from all other people (see Exodus 19:5–6). For more information and a more detailed outline of Leviticus, refer to the Bible Dictionary, “Leviticus” (p. 724).

• Leviticus 1–16

• Leviticus 17–27